The more fertilizer is applied, the higher the yield? Wrong!

Many farmers have experienced this confusion: despite increasing the amount of fertilizer applied every year, the yield does not rise but even drops. In fact, the problem does not lie in the insufficient application of fertilizer, but in not grasping the key to "reasonable fertilization" - to make the fertilizer truly effective, one must first firmly grasp these three points: "root condition, fertilization period, and fertilizer application method". 
Crops absorb nutrients entirely through their roots. If the root system is not in good condition, applying excessive fertilizers will be a waste. For instance, in the case of peanut planted after wheat, the soil becomes severely compacted after the wheat harvest, with the plough layer mostly within 15 centimeters. The peanut roots cannot penetrate deeply and thus cannot absorb water and nutrients. The sandy or loamy structure of the cultivated and irrigated gray desert soil has poor water and nutrient retention capacity. During irrigation, water seeps down rapidly, and after fertilization, nutrients are leached away. The roots cannot hold onto the nutrients. During the fruiting period of strawberries, the plants need to support fruit enlargement, new leaf growth, and root renewal simultaneously. If the base fertilizer is insufficient before planting, the leaves will turn yellow and the fruits will become smaller after 1-2 fruiting periods. At this point, shallow trenches should be dug 15-20 centimeters to the side of the planting rows to apply well-rotted sheep manure, superphosphate, and potassium sulfate. This can not only improve soil looseness but also provide long-lasting nutrition for the roots, preventing nutrient deficiency in the later stage.

If the fertilization period is not chosen properly, all the nutrients will go to waste. For instance, if water and fertilizer are applied when the fruit is just setting and the plant is not yet stable, most of the nutrients will be absorbed by the plant instead of the fruit. Three to five days after strawberry flowers fall off, it is the period when fruit cells rapidly divide. High-nitrogen and high-potassium water-soluble fertilizers (such as 20-10-20 formula) should be used to promote both fruit development and leaf photosynthesis. When the fruit enters the coloring stage, it is necessary to switch to a high-potassium and low-nitrogen type (such as 10-5-25 formula) to direct the nutrients towards sugar accumulation and fruit weight gain. Corn has a long growth cycle, and topdressing is more demanding. Urea should be buried about 15 centimeters away from the plant and at a depth of more than 5 centimeters, so that the roots can absorb it without being burned. 
Fertilizer is not all about having a large package. The right type and application method are crucial. Some fertilizers may have large packages but have low absorption and utilization rates, making their application as good as no application at all. For instance, urea, an ammonium nitrogen fertilizer, must be buried to prevent it from volatilizing into ammonia gas, which would result in a significant loss of fertilizer efficiency. Strawberries lacking boron will flower but not bear fruit. Within three days after the flowers fall, a 0.1% borax solution (dissolved in warm water) should be sprayed. A magnesium deficiency in strawberries will cause the lower leaves to turn yellow, and a 0.2% magnesium sulfate solution should be sprayed. Sugar beets have a high demand for nutrients, but continuous cropping in the same field will deplete soil nutrients. Therefore, a rotation period of six to seven years or more is necessary, and deep loosening of the soil with large machinery is required to break up soil compaction and allow roots to penetrate.

Appropriate fertilization is never as simple as "fertilize more". It needs to be combined with the growth characteristics of the crops and their actual needs. For example, for wheat-sown peanuts, a short-season variety with a growth period of 120-130 days should be selected. Before sowing, the seeds should be treated with a seed dressing agent to prevent underground pests and diseases during the seedling stage. During the strawberry fruiting period, leaves should be pruned, and 8-10 functional leaves should be retained. Then, LED lights (with a red-blue light ratio of 7:3) should be used for supplementary lighting to enhance photosynthetic efficiency. Sugar beets cannot be planted on plots that have used high-residue herbicides such as diuron or Prowacetam. Otherwise, there is a risk of reduced yield or even complete failure. Only by getting these details right can the fertilizer truly "feed" the crops, and the yield will naturally increase.